The Arms Race, Space, Olympics, 1972, Fall of Communism

Cold War Arms Race: “You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war." -- Albert Einstein "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." -- Albert Einstein

History of “Nukes” From 1945-1949 USA was the only nation to have Nuclear Bombs.

The Arms Race Begins In 1949, the Soviets developed the atomic bomb.

History of “Nukes” In the 1950’s Britain, France, and the USSR all have nuclear weapons.

Nuclear Holocaust World leaders realize the clash between the superpowers could destroy mankind.

Arms Race Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected to succeed Harry S. Truman as president

Brinkmanship Eisenhower’s Foreign Policy: Brinkmanship What it meant: go to the brink of nuclear war, then back off What Critics said: this is a DANGEROUS policy How Brinkmanship was useful: Eisenhower threatened China with nukes, which helped “end” the Korean War

Arms Race Nikita Khrushchev succeeded Josef Stalin as Soviet Premier

Sputnik Inspires Fear Others worried that the next Soviet rocket would carry a nuclear weapon, not a satellite Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev announced that the Soviets would “bury capitalism” (and said that future American generations would live under communism)

The arms race begins…. Both countries began developing their weapons so as to be able to ‘outgun’ their opponents. This meant: developing more powerful weapons Having more of one weapon than the other side

The arms race begins…. WHY NUCLEAR WEAPONS? Cheaper than having a large army They were a deterrent. The idea was to have so many missiles that they could not all be destroyed. If one side attacked then it knew that the other could retaliate. This was known as MAD – MUTUAL ASSURED DESTRUCTION. For some the Arms Race was a test of the strengths of Capitalism v communism

USSR 76 IBMs 700 Medium range bombers 1,600 bombers 38,000 Tanks 12 Nuclear submarines 495 Conventional submarines 0 Battleships and cruisers US 450 ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missile) 250 Medium range missiles 2,260 Bombers 16,000Tanks 32 Nuclear submarines 260 Conventional submarines 76 Battleships and carriers

Destructive Capabilities 1979 estimates by the US Office of Technology Assessment One small nuclear weapon exploded over Detroit or Leningrad would kill 400,000 people immediately Full-scale nuclear war would kill over 100 million Americans and 75 million Soviets within 30 days The American deaths alone would approximately equal the 9/11 terrorist attacks every day for 55 years.

The Space Race The Space Race: the race between the Soviet Union and the United States to explore space first Significance #1: if the Soviets won, the world might think communist was stronger than democracy Significance #2: space race technology could be used to build better war weapons

The serious side was…. That a rocket that could launch a satellite could also launch a nuclear warhead at a target. So space developments led to rapid advances in nuclear weapons. By 1960 each side had the nuclear capability to destroy the earth In 1961 Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut was the first man to orbit the earth – the Soviets had the lead. For Khrushchev it wa a triumph for communism

Sputnik On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched a satellite named Sputnik into outer space. It was sent into space to circle Earth.

Arms race In 1957, the launch of the satellite Sputnik into space drastically changes the arms race

Cold War Tension Rising Event: Sputnik was launched What happened: In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first space satellite Some people worried that the Soviets were launching spy satellites

Khrushchev said ‘ The Sputniks prove that communism has won the competition between communist and capitalist countries. The economy, science, culture and the creative genius of people in all areas of life develop better and faster under communism.’

US Catches Up The United States had clearly fallen behind in the space race. The US worked very hard and quickly, and launched its first satellite in January1958. Then, in October of 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA was founded to promote US space exploration projects.

NASA NASA launched the first successful weather satellite in 1960. Meanwhile, in April 1961 Yuri Gargarin became the first person to orbit (circle) the Earth. February 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth.

President Kennedy’s Address On 21 May, 1961 President Kennedy made a famous speech in which he announced an ambitious plan to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade – The Apollo Program was launched https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwFvJog2dMw

Friendship 7 John Glenn’s spacecraft was named Friendship 7. More than 60 million Americans watched the launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida which stayed in space for 4 hours and 48 minutes.

Telstar 1 The US and the Soviet Union continued to build and test new rockets and satellites. It was discovered that satellites could be used for communication. The US satellite Telstar 1 relayed the first transatlantic telecast in 1962.

Apollo 11 On July 16, 1969, the American spaceship Apollo 11 blasted off carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins. While Collins circled the moon in Apollo 11, Armstrong and Aldrin guided the Eagle, a small, specially designed spacecraft, down to the moon’s surface. They became the first people to walk on the moon.

Apollo 11

US Takes the Lead With the success of Apollo 11, the United States had taken the lead in the space race. The space race continued until the collapse of the Soviet Union, but space exploration continues today. The International Space Station is an orbiting station on which American and astronauts from former Soviet countries now explore space as friends.

The failure of disarmament Both sides hoped for arms reductions to cut defence spending After Stalin’s death East-West relations had improved USSR proposed: reduction of armed forces Eventual abolition of atomic weapons International inspections to supervise this

The USA…. Wanted strong inspection system Proposed ‘open skies’ – openly photograph each others sites from planes USSR rejected this USA rejected initial USSR proposals Stalemate

U2 1960 U2 was a spy plane – that was what it was developed for Able to fly 6000km at high altitudes Could take photos of Soviet bomber bases and missile sites

Events May 1- U2 plane piloted by Gary Powers shot down by Soviet missile over Russia May 5 – Eisenhower denied it was spying May 7 – Khrushchev says Powers to be charged with spying

Events May 11 – Eisenhower admits U2 was on spying mission May 14 – Khrushchev demands apology and cancelling of all U2 flights May 16 – U2 flights cancelled – no apology – Khrushchev walks out of Paris Summit

Results Paris summit abandoned – hopes on disarmament dashed Khrushchev showed Communist world he could be tough Powers sentenced to ten years. Swapped for Soviet spy after 17 months Cold War attitudes hardened again

The Olympics Olympic Games get used as propaganda for the strength of communism and democracy Munich 1972 Montreal 1976 Moscow 1980 Los Angeles 1984 Calgary 1988 Vancouver 2010

1972 Summit Series

Fall of Communism 1989-1991 Openness and Restructuring Price of oil fell from $120/barrel to $24 Military Spending Defeat in Afghanistan Chernobyl April 26, 1986 Coup d’Etat August 19, 1991